Amy Tiehel (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad PublishingISBN: 9781624692581

Here is the incredible true story of the woman inspired the beloved movie The Sound of Music. See how she became stepmother to the von Trapp children, and how the family escaped the Nazi's and became a revered singing group.

Nicole Orr (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad PublishingISBN: 9781624692093

If you are ever in Sydney, Australia and ask a few Sydneysiders what to see first, they will tell you to visit the Opera House. It is one of the most elaborate entertainment venues in the world and has hosted some of the biggest names in entertainment. It is home to Opera Australia, The Australian Ballet, the Sydney Theatre Company, and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

Ann Tatlock (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad PublishingISBN: 9781624692079

What looks like a solid stone statue but inside has a staircase of 354 steps leading from pedestal to crown? The Staute of Liberty! This enormous monument in New Yotk Harbor is both a stunning sork of art and an amzing feat of engineering. If you like building things and putting puzzles together, you'll love learning about the making of Lady Liberty, America's greatest symbol of freedom and friendship.

Pete DiPrimio (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad PublishingISBN: 9781624692826

Brace to meet some of the biggest baseball stars of the Negro Leagues. They were men and women of glory and achevement, of spectacular ability and heartbreaking obstacles. They rose above discrimination to pursue their dreams. Cool Papa Bell was once said to be so fast, he could outrun electricity. Another story had Josh Gibson hit a towering fly ball in Pittsburgh that didn't land until the next day-in Philadelphia! Pitcher Satchel Paige won with a blistering fastball when he was young, and then with experience and creativity when he was old. He played with charm and witty sayings: "Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you." Nobody messed with Oscar Charleston or fielded better than John "Pop" Lloyd.Women such as Peanut Johnson and Toni Stone also made big impressions. These are among the brightest stars of a league, gone but never forgotten.

Karen Gibson (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad PublishingISBN: 9781624692116

It started with a promise, but was fueled by a passion for building. Shah Jahan, Mughal emperor of India in the seventeenth century, promised to build the most magnificent tomb for his dying wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Every measurement and material had deep meaning. All contributed to the perfection of the Taj Mahal. The 42-acre complex was a vision of harmony that reflected Mughal culture and the importance placed on respect for the dead. Almost 400 years later, the Taj Mahal of India remains one of the most beautiful tombs on Earth.

Amie Jane Leavitt (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad PublishingISBN: 9781624692727

Come with us on a journey to the beautiful continent of South America. Along the way, you'll see golden-furred monkeys in the rain forest. You'll spy pink-feathered flamingos in the desert. And you'll even spot bright blue beetles that behave just like tortoises. It'll truly be an adventure like no other!

Amie Jane Leavitt (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad PublishingISBN: 9781624692703

Race up north to check out the polar bears and moose. Then, skip down south to see alligators, jackrabbits, and Gila monsters. North America is indeed a land of contrast. Snowy landscapes attract certain animals, while swamps, deserts, and mountains attract others. Come follow us on a journey to this beautiful continent. Many new furry, feathery, and leathery friends are waiting to meet you there!

Tamra Orr (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad PublishingISBN: 9781624692352

The Florida Everglades are located in the most southern part of Florida where the peninsula breaks off into thousands of tiny mangrove islands. This beautiful area, known by the Native Americans as the "grassy river" is made up of marshy swamp lands, mangrove clusters, and pine forests. It is home to a variety of both plant and animal species. The blue heron, alligator, manatee, flamingo, and bobcat all make this place their home. As a national park, the Everglades' natural beauty has been preserved so that it can be around for future generations.

Claire O'Neal (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad PublishingISBN: 9781624692680

Europe is a small continent, but it is full of some of the more fascinating creatures in the world. From the dangerous black widow spider to the spotted deer, it is rich with animals on the ground, in the air, and under the water. Can you guess which animals hibernate? Which creature dances when it is upset? Read on and you'll find out.

Russell Roberts (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad PublishingISBN: 9781624692031

The Eiffel Tower is one of the most famous structures in the world. It is instantly recognizable, a gigantic yet elegant reminder of Paris, France. The tower is such an iconic symbol that it is hard to believe that it was once considered an eyesore by many famous writers and artists. One can't imagine Paris without it, but it was once supposed to be torn down. This is the story of the Eiffel Tower and of the man that created it, explaining in detail how he used unique engineering and construction tools and techniques to build something many said was impossible.

Michael DeMocker (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad PublishingISBN: 9781624691959

Journey back in time to sixteenth-century Italy with 10-year-old Fresca as she introduces you to her master, Michelangelo, the Renaissance genius whose sculptures and paintings changed the way the world sees artists. But there is one surprise in store for the reader, Fresca is not what you think she is!

Claire O'Neal (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad PublishingISBN: 9781624692376

Drive to the northern corner of Montana and you'll discover a national park filled with soaring mountain peaks, sparkling teal-blue lakes, more than 2,000 plant species, and hundreds of animal species. Glacier National Park is one of the most beautiful parks in the country and has been a world biosphere reserve since 1974. But the glaciers are in trouble from global warming. Scientists estimate that all the glaciers in the park will be gone by the year 2030. Find out what people are doing to help preserve this national treasure.

Tamra Orr (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad PublishingISBN: 9781624692055

What is that hovering over the Pacific Northwest city of Seattle, Washington? Is it part of a movie set? Is it a publicity stunt? Could it bean actual spaceship? When you first spy the soaring Space Needle, high above Seattle, it's easy to be confused. The people who designed it more than 50 years ago would be happy to know that their building still amazes and mystifies. They wanted to create something that looked as if it had come from the future, just in time for the 1964 World's Fair. The obstacles they faced, the problems they solved, and the decisions they made have turned the Space Needle into more than just an incredible site to visit - it makes for an incredible story.

Nicole Orr (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad PublishingISBN: 9781624692642

Come away to Australia! It is here that you'll meet the shark at the top of the ocean's food chain. You'll also get to see koalas napping in trees, kangaroos running through the Outback, and birds that dive at the heads of bike riders. Visit Australia and say hello to some of the world's most dangerous and coolest creatures.

Claire O'Neal (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad PublishingISBN: 9781624692413

Boiling hot springs, spouting geysers, and bubbling mud volcanoes-all these unusual features and more are found at Yellowstone National Park. And those are just the features that have to do with volcanic activity! The park is also home to a bountiful wildlife ranging from gray wolves and grizzly bears to bison, bluebirds, bull elk, and beavers. Yellowstone is a nature lover's paradise and one of the most loved national parks in the country. Haven't had a chance to visit for yourself yet? Well, then come on inside-this book will take you on a grand tour of Yellowstone, and you won't even have to leave home to do so.

Christine Petersen (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad PublishingISBN: 9781624692437

Want to go to a place where there are hundreds of waterfalls, trees as tall as skyscrapers, and towering slick rock mountains just begging for climbing? If so, you'll love visiting Yosemite National Park. This stunning park is located in California. It is where the giant sequoias live, some of the world's largest trees. The biggest, Grizzly Giant, is 30 stories tall and thousands of years old. Among the park's many types of animals are rare great gray owls and endangered bighorn sheep. John Muir loved this place. So did President Theodore Roosevelt. Ever since they helped make Yosemite a national park, millions of visitors have come to enjoy its natural beauty.

Russell Roberts (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad PublishingISBN: 9781624692840

Like America in the first half of the twentieth century, baseball was still segregated. Every road to the major leagues was blocked by unwritten agreements never to allow black athletes entry. It seemed like the better they played, the further they were pushed back. Until, that is, a plan was hatched by two men. One seized an opportunity to advance the game of baseball forever, and the other ran a path through bigotry like he ran the bases, with strength and grace. Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson would work together to break down the color barriers of baseball, and show the world that African-American athletes were as good and as worthy as anyone to put on a major league uniform. They were not alone. From Larry Doby to Monte Irvin, and the irrepressible Satchel Paige, baseball was gifted by the emergence of a weath of talent and personality that would truly make it, at last, America's pastime.

Tammy Gagne (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad PublishingISBN: 9781624692390

Walk right up to the rim of the Grand Canyon and watch the ground fall away, taking your breath with it. The drop is a mile straight down to the skinny green Colorado River. But the wide walls of canyon rock catch your eye first. They spread out in all directions, farther than you can see, a never-ending stack of soft rainbow colors. You can't take a bad picture at the Grand Canyon, and yet no picture truly captures it. When he visited in 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt declared that the Grand Canyon was the "one great sight every American should see." Today, Grand Canyon National Park protects a rich Native American heritage, beautiful geology, endangered species, and miles of exciting hikes. In 2019, Grand Canyon National Park, will celebrate its 100th anniversary. See why, each year, the Grand Canyon continues to be one of America's favorite destinations.

Kayleen Reusser (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad PublishingISBN: 9781624692017

London, England's Big Ben is one of the biggest bells ever made. Its melodic sound has rung in the capital city of London for more than 150 years. Big Ben hangs in the 316-foot Palace of Westminster with the Great Clock. The clock's gears move the hands on the clock's four faces. It also makes the quarter bells and Big Ben chime. Together, it is one of England's most popular tourist sites. Yet, Big Ben was almost never built. Fire, carelessness, and attacks nearly kept it a dream in some people's minds. Discover how this beloved British landmark was nearly lost several times and how determination and hard work brought it to life.

Tamra Orr (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad PublishingISBN: 9781624692543

From 2003 to today, the Ellen DeGeneres show has been one of the most loved talk shows in television history. Learn how Ellen went from stand-up comedy to standing up for people's rights, and how she endeared herself to millions of fans around the world.

Tamra Orr (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad PublishingISBN: 9781624692765

Pull on your coat and mittens. Its time to explore the coldest place in the world. It is full of snow and ice, but empty of people. What animals can live where the it is so cold? Open these pages and find out but be sure to stay warm!

Michael DeMocker (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad PublishingISBN: 9781624691935

Journey back in time to 1503 in Florence, Italy, where ten year-old Bartolomeo del Giocondo introduces his master, Leonardo da Vinci. This Renaissance genius was a painter, sculptor, inventor, and, according to his young apprentice, sometimes a bit of a noodle. Little does Bartolomeo know that his family is going to be part of one of the greatest works of art ever created.

Tamra Orr (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad PublishingISBN: 9781624691911

Matteo could not believe it when he was asked to come and meet the famous artist Goya. Because the young boy had learned how to speak with his hands, he could help the great artist communicate th others. Follow Matteo as he talks to Goya, learns about the mans art, and even becomes the focus of an unexpected portrait. And prepare to meet one of the most talented, haunted, and creative painters in history.